Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll keep it short, but I wanted to state for the record the concerns that we heard in committee through those presenters that were able to appear and those that sent in written submissions. Although we heard in the chairman's remarks to this bill, a concern we had to decide as a committee if because of the lack of time to consult with individuals on the addition of a second board, it was either we proceed with this or we decide if the 15th Assembly should do further work on it. But, as stated by many of my colleagues here that were on the committee, there was a lot of work done on this and it would be a shame to see it not move forward. As stated by other Members, it was good to see that the majority of recommendations made by the special committee are in this act and deserves to move forward and see completion, at least to the stage it's at, by this government.

Mr. Chairman, I myself, being Inuvialuit, fall into the category that Members speak about. My ability to speak my own language is very limited. I can understand when my parents would talk and I could repeat some words to them, but to actually carry on a conversation I'd be lost, Mr. Chairman. That's something that is of a concern when you look at the population of Inuvialuit left in the Northwest Territories. We are a minority amongst aboriginal peoples and it's important that we do continue to strive to ensure that our children have the ability to pick up the language, as well as the history and the culture of their people. I'm happy to say that through the education systems in the community of Inuvik they have language classes where I can have my children in there learning at a young age to speak their language. Hopefully at some time they'll be able to beat me in my ability to speak Inuvialuktun and maybe have a good conversation with their daduk, as we say in our language, and go forward from there. It especially hit me this past summer when my mother had said to me, speak to me in Inuvialuktun, and I couldn't. Not a complete sentence.

It's something that is timely and important for our children. So, excuse me, I must congratulate the government and the committee for their hard work. I apologize for this. Thank you.

---Applause